Trudeau tweets $50M pledge for girls’ education around the world during Mandela festival

TheStar.com
December 3, 2018
Christopher Torchia

Beyonce and other international stars have gathered in South Africa for a charity concert honouring Nelson Mandela, a century after he was born.

Pharrell Williams, Trevor Noah and Oprah Winfrey were among those headlining the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Sunday. Model Naomi Campbell and singer Bob Geldof, who organized the Live Aid concerts for Africa, are also attending.

Trevor Noah speaks on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Youth Leadership Prize winner, Wawira Njiru delivers acceptance speech on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Gayle King speaks on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pharrell Williams and Chris Martin perform during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Global Citizen, an advocacy group, campaigns for an end to extreme poverty and other causes. It says many people won tickets to Sunday’s concert through charity work and petition-signing.

South African media say a concert worker died in a stadium fall Saturday.

World leaders gathered at the stadium for a 2013 memorial after the death of Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader and South Africa’s first black president.

Sunday the stadium was filled by thousands attending the concert. The festival gave a platform to government leaders, CEOs and others who pledged more funding for health care and other social programs.

In a recorded video message, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta promised more money in the national budget. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted a $50 million pledge for education for girls and women around the world.

 

 

“This is amazing!” festival host Trevor Noah said as Trudeau’s tweet was shown on a big stadium screen.

Noah earlier recalled a comment by Mandela that poverty could be overcome through determined action. South Africa, where white minority rule ended a quarter-century ago, is struggling with one of the world’s highest rates of income inequality.